Acupuncture is a complex branch of ancient Chinese medicine, but its practical principles and methods are easily understood. There are 14 major energy channels called meridians course through the human body including the head, arms, hands, legs, feet, torso and internal organs. The subtle energy called Chi circulates via the meridians to all parts of the body, even the most remote cells. Chi is the vital force, the presence of which separates the living from the dead. Its balanced, unimpeded flow is critical to sound health. Any misdirection, blockage, or other derangement of the amount, flow, or balance of Chi may result in pain, dysfunction, and ill health.

The general theory of acupuncture is based on the premise that there are patterns of energy flow (Qi) through the body that are essential for health. Disruptions of this flow are believed to be responsible for disease. Acupuncture may, it has been theorized, correct imbalances of flow at identifiable points close to the skin.
The practice of acupuncture to treat identifiable pathophysiological (disease) conditions in American medicine was rare until the visit of President Richard M. Nixon to China in 1972. Since that time, there has been an explosion of interest in the United States and Europe in the application of the technique of acupuncture to Western medicine.

Acupuncture is a family of procedures involving stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the skin by a variety of techniques. There are a variety of approaches to diagnosis and treatment in American acupuncture that incorporate medical traditions from China, Japan, Korea, and other countries. The most thoroughly studied mechanism of stimulation of acupuncture points employs penetration of the skin by thin, solid, metallic needles, which are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation. If needed we can employ 0.12mm, 0.14mm, 0.16mm or 0.20mm needles and will demonstrate that acupuncture needles are not painful as you thought .

After reviewing the existing body of knowledge, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed acupuncture needles from the category of "experimental medical devices." The FDA now regulates acupuncture needles, just as it does other devices such as surgical scalpels and hypodermic syringes, under good manufacturing practices and single-use standards of sterility.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Program was established in 1977 and is designed to assess health technology. The program organizes major conferences that produce consensus statements and technology assessment statements on controversial issues in medicine important to health care providers, patients, and the general public. The following statement is from the NIH Consensus Development Statement on Acupuncture on November 3-5, 1997.

Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely practiced in the United States. There have been many studies of its potential usefulness. However, many of these studies provide equivocal results because of design, sample size, and other factors. The issue is further complicated by inherent difficulties in the use of appropriate controls, such as placebo and sham acupuncture groups.

However, promising results have emerged, for example, efficacy of acupuncture in adult post-operative and chemotherapy nausea and vomiting and in post-operative dental pain. There are other situations such as addiction, stroke rehabilitation, headache, menstrual cramps, tennis elbow, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain, osteoarthritis, low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and asthma where acupuncture may be useful as an adjunct treatment or an acceptable alternative or be included in a comprehensive management program.

Findings from basic research have begun to elucidate the mechanisms of action of acupuncture, including the release of opioids and other peptides in the central nervous system and the periphery and changes in neuroendocrine function. Although much needs to be accomplished, the emergence of plausible mechanisms for the therapeutic effects of acupuncture is encouraging.

There is sufficient evidence of acupuncture's value to expand its use into conventional medicine and to encourage further studies of its physiology and clinical value. This statement is representative of the opinions of current standard medical practice.

Call us and let us show you what acupuncture can do for you.

Are there any "DO's" and "DONT's" on the day of treatment?

Yes. To enhance the value of a treatment, the following guidelines are important:

• Do not eat an unusually large meal immediately before or after your treatment.
• Do not over-exercise, engage in sexual activity, or consumer alcoholic beverages within 6 hours before or after the
treatment.
• Plan your activities so that after the treatment you can get some rest, or at least not have to be working at top performance. This is especially important for the first few visits.
• Continue to take any prescription medicines as directed by your regular doctor. Substance abuse (drugs and alcohol) especially in the week prior to treatment, will seriously interfere with the effectiveness of acupuncture treatment.
• Remember to keep good mental or written notes of what your response is to the treatment. This is important for your doctor to know so that the follow-up treatments ca be designed to best help you and your problem.

How long does each treatment take?
Each treatment takes about 45 minutes, or from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the complication of the illness. The first treatment may be over one hour.

How often and how many times will I need to be treated?Since each person is unique, the number of treatments needed will vary. Among the determining factors are the type of condition, whether the condition is chronic or acute, and the vitality of the individual. For acute conditions, treatments usually take an average of 2-3 times in one week to be gone. For more serious/severe conditions, the average treatment plan consist of 2-3 times per week for 6-8 weeks. For chronic conditions, treatment may take longer to resolve.

Does acupuncture, in any possibility, transmit infectious diseases, such as AIDS, Hepatitis, etc...?No. Because we use disposable needles and the procedures meet the required standard.

Why does acupuncture work?
Generally speaking, it helps our body heal itself. The needle inserting into certain parts of the body, initiates the healing system/ability which was jammed or slowed down, start to function again. Our body has a healing system and healing ability . And it works so wonderful. Without this healing ability, no human doctor can help any disease. The ancient Chinese doctors might have known the secret, and took advantage of the body’s healing system, by using needles to insert into the body, and billions and billions of Chinese people have been healed in the past thousand years.

Does acupuncture deaden or block the nerve?
No. Acupuncture is to make the nerve and muscle normal and strong again. It does not mask the problem either, so since the problem is solved the pain goes away.

Is there any danger of acupuncture?
No danger, risk, harm, or damage to the body if it is performed by a qualified, licensed acupuncturist.